Food 4U is an awareness campaign sponsored by the Italian Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies and addressed at European students aged 14 to 19.
A trend observed all over Europe points to a growth in problems related to incorrect eating habits and in disorders including obesity and overweight among the younger generations. Against this backdrop, the competition “Food 4U - your food, your body, your video” offers students an opportunity to exchange views on the need and importance of a healthy and well-balanced diet, by creating a video on the subject of a correct nutrition.
An international Jury will review all video entries and select the finalists for each Country. The groups authoring the best video spots will participate in the international Food 4U Video Festival. The event will take place in an Italian location chosen among those that best exemplify the country’s food and agriculture heritage. The programme includes excursions, taste laboratories, seminars, and of course the viewing of the videos produced by the students competing to win the prestigious FOOD 4U AWARD 2009
At its 5th year in 2009, the competition will involve over 6 million students and as many as 25,000 schools.
European students have responded with increasing enthusiasm to this borderless adventure dedicated to young people as both authors and recipients of an “alternative” type of advertising on the importance of healthy and informed eating choices.
The history of FOOD 4U
- In 2005, the first year of the “Food 4U - your food, your body, your video” campaign and competition, the initiative reached some 4 million students and their teachers from 13,000 high schools in 10 European countries.
- The encouraging results of 2005 prompted the promoters to continue in 2006, expanding the initiative to a total of 15 European countries: Belgium - Denmark - Finland - France - Germany - Greece - Italy - Luxembourg - Norway - the Netherlands - Portugal - UK - Spain - Sweden - Hungary. Over 5 million students from more than 18,000 high schools were invited to participate through the distribution of hundreds of thousands of leaflets printed in the 15 official languages of the participating countries and containing the Food 4U 2006 competition notice.
- A new goal was achieved in 2007: for the first time, Food 4U finalists gathered in Rome for the award ceremony. After a wonderful stay in locations that are the very emblems of Mediterranean diet, Food 4U contestant groups and their teachers travelled to the capital of Italy to conclude their experience in an exceptional venue. In the evocative atmosphere of the Eternal City, the absolute winners of the video competition received a trophy offered by the President of the Italian Republic during a spectacular award ceremony in the presence of public authorities and international press representatives.
- In 2008, at its the 4th year and with the excitement from 2007 still lingering, the Food 4U campaign took up where it had left off and welcomed Austria among the participating countries. The final event, once again staged in Rome, attested to the increasing success of the initiative in terms of number of participants, and more importantly to the growing quality and effectiveness of the competing videos.
- In 2009, the Food 4U campaign now at its fifth year still has exciting challenges in store for its young filmmakers. Recent data show a strong increase in Europe of problems related to wrong eating habits and of disorders like obesity and overweight among the younger generations. Once again, the Competition “Food 4U - your food, your body, your video” seeks to offer young Europeans an opportunity to express their views through an effective and increasingly widespread communication tool like the video spot. An innovative idea that encourages young people to compete in creativity and experimentation with an important goal in mind: to address their peers with a direct and effective message on the value of conscious food choices.
A campaign making people aware of the importance of a healthy and correct choice of food, created by youngsters of between 14 and 19 years of age from 16 European Countries.An opportunity to express your creativity.
The initiative is on-line at www.food-4u.it.
